ST. LOUIS–A Seattle assistant superintendent has been tapped to lead the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). The Board of Education chose Dr. Keisha Scarlett as the district’s new superintendent.

What You Need To Know

  • Dr. Keisha Scarlett will be the new SLPS superintendent starting July 1

  • She most recently was serving as assistant superintendent

  • Dr. Scarlett was one of three finalists from a nationwide search

  • “This community is resilient and has made important progress.Together, we will continue moving forward, until all students in Saint Louis are safe, cared for, and prepared with an education to take them wherever they want to go,” said Dr. Scarlett

Dr. Scarlett served Seattle Public Schools for 24 years and says she is honored to start the new role on July 1. She will step into the role left vacant after Dr. Kelvin Adams retired after 14 years as the SLPS superintendent. Dr. Nicole Williams is serving as the interim superintendent.

 

“This community is resilient and has made important progress. Together, we will continue moving forward, until all students in Saint Louis are safe, cared for, and prepared with an education to take them wherever they want to go,” said Dr. Scarlett.

“We are thrilled to announce such a talented, genuine and visionary educator will be the next superintendent of Saint Louis Public Schools,” said Board of Education President Matt Davis. 

In a video recorded during the interview process and recently released to the public, Dr. Scarlett explains she will work on building trust in the community by focusing on building relationships, calling them the “connective tissue of everything around us.” She says she has always been a community-focused leader and plans on continuing that in St. Louis.

Davis explained the board’s goal in a nationwide search was to find a leader who would build on the district’s successes while also focusing on addressing its challenges. Dr. Scarlett was one of three finalists, as well as Dr. Williams.

“We were extremely fortunate that Dr. Williams stepped up to serve as interim and we are indebted to her for the pivotal role she will play in this transition,” said Davis. 

As the assistant superintendent in Seattle, Dr. Scarlett put into place a strategic plan to increase early literacy among African American boys. SLPS also says she oversaw advanced coursework initiatives to make sure young people were prepared for college, career and community upon graduation. 

Dr. Scarlett is also credited with co-founding a tuition-free educator preparation program, developing an accelerated mathematics pathways at a one school for students in grades three through eight, and even provided then-President-elect Biden’s transition team with guidance for reopening schools during the pandemic.